He's no more

“Gone With the Wind "

Whenever Adit Ganguly checked his weight at the railway station the automated voice always used to say “Please Step Again " at least 5 times before the chit could come out.  His friends and family constantly used to make him aware of the fact on how badly does he need to gain weight.

But as the fun loving boy that he was Adit ignored them all and listened to what his heart said not knowing that his weight would be the cause of his death.

The “beanstalk “ as he was fondly called was swept away by the sea at Versova Beach on Monday , 23^rd June 2012. It’s a sad incident for the near and dear but it doesn’t come as a shock to those who really knew him. He needed to gain weight as simple as that. The fact that he didn’t know how to swim also didn’t help his cause.

“Beanstalk “will be remembered as the tall and lanky lad who always went out of his way to help those in need. He was one who loved roadside food and swore by Himesh Reshamiya.

He gave up non-vegetarian food not knowing how badly he needed to gain weight. This resulted in common fights with his mother and their dog “Simba “gaining 5 kilos due to the fish and chicken at his disposal. 

Besides family he had to bear the constant nagging of his girlfriend who was a good 15 kilos heavier than him.  He couldn’t help it; she was born in a family of wrestlers. She tried her best to make him gain weight 

but “Beanstalk “was stubborn as a mule. This resulted in constant fights on who needs to lose and who needs to gain weight but women think they’re right most of the time.

Due to this “ Beanstalk “ faced depression and frustration in life. He started hating the things he once used to love. He started smoking and behaving aggressively with everyone. In a way its good things ended this way as it was just a matter of time before they broke up.

He was also well known in the Lokhandwala and Versova footballing circle. His friends are now faced with a huge problem as they have to come up with a replacement for a goalpost.

We live, and we die. At the funeral, he’s sure no one will cry.

Funeral Venue and Time - Tuesday , 24th July 2012 . Versova Cremation Ground 4pm 

Dress Code – Please don’t wear White . Adit loved Football so much he’d like it if you guys turned up in the jersies of the football teams you support . And if you don’t watch Football and want to turn up , just don’t wear white . 

A cocktail you'll enjoy

When I heard Tumhi Ho Bandhu for the first time, the word Pritam immediately came to my mind.  Cocktail’s title seems to be the latest entry playing on most of my friend’s mobile phones and rightly so. Right from the first line, you know that this is a song that you want to hear on repeat. Such is Kavita Seth’s voice that right from the first line sung by her one wants to hear the song another time. Accompanied by Neeraj Shridhar, the duo make you fall in love with the song doing absolute justice to the tempo and lyrics. This song’s going to be on top of the charts for a quite some time. I just hope Pritam hasn’t lifted this song from anywhere, would be a real mood kill if he did (won’t be surprised if he did at the same time).

Daaru Desi is peppy right from the word go (nice guitar intro). Interesting and different lyrics accompanied by Benny Dayal vocals (wish he would sing more songs) make this another song that you must have on your phone. Also, a shout goes to the female vocalist who complements Benny very well. Two songs down and I’ve already decided to watch this movie. Good job Pritam (fuck knows how)

Yaariyan is one of those songs that you can listen to when you look outside the window of your home or car window (very much an on the move song, the peaceful types). My expectations from the number went up a notch when I read Shilpa Rao’s name below the name of the song and she doesn’t disappoint. I don’t know who Mohan Kanan is, but whoever you are, thanks for giving your voice to this song. 3 songs down and I wonder if this can be really a work of art from the man we know as Pritam.

Song names seem to get weirder by the day; Second Hand Jawani gives you the exact same feeling. Lyrics are even weirder than the name. If you’re the person who likes what others don’t like then this song is for you. The female voice was just not for my liking. Halfway into the song and you’ll hit next.

Pritam combines English and Hindi/Punjabi lyrics in Tera Naam Japdi Phiran. The English lyrics are the ones that you hear in any hip-hop number, heard one you’ve heard all. This needs to change, fast. This song will play a lot in gym’s I feel. The Hindi/Punjabi part of the song is the saving grace. Heard the song twice and that was it.

Luttna starts off on such a sober note (good one that too) and midway into the song the song gets so loud that you want to remove your headphones. Why Pritam Why? (Started off so well). Song keeps moving from sober to loud and back. Even if you download this one, I’ll give it 5 hearings max before you delete it.

I liked Jugni, I really did. Punjabi lyrics (can’t understand them but you like the language regardless) being the main reason. Give it a listen.

The reprise version of Yaariyan sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Arijit Singh doesn’t grab your attention right from the start which the normal version does. But Sunidhi shows what an accomplished singer she is. The best female singer in the industry at the moment if you ask me, but there’s something missing in this one that makes the original one better.

Luttna has a reprise version as well, and I give this one less than 5 hearings before you delete it. The soft part of the song is all that you want to hear. Once the song goes loud you want to bang your head (different type of head banging mind you). There will surely be a segment of the audience that likes this song. Want to hear their side of the story.

Tera Naam Japdi Phiran has a’ Version 2.0’; it’s just another song in the album if you ask me. Download this or the original one, won’t make a difference.

Angrezi Beat is a song sung by Honey Singh is a Punjabi number that’ll be used in the movie. A song that people will dance to at parties.

Songs that you MUST DOWNLOAD – Tumhi Ho Bandhu, Daaru Desi, Yaariyan.

Songs that you could download and will eventually end up liking – Luttna, Jugni , Angrezi Beat

Songs that you will ‘keep’ but not delete neither listen after some time  – Tera Naam Jaapdi Phiran

Please DO NOT DOWNLOAD – Second Hand Jawaani

I’ll give credit where due and say that Pritam has made sure that the music sales of Cocktail will be high. He’s made sure that people will end up flocking the theatres come July 13. A good soundtrack by the man was long time overdue, Pritam hasn’t disappointed.

Number ' BY HEART '

Good for Memory this thing on top 

We don't need to remember things thanks to the emerging technologies that make our life much simpler. Add to that , the frequency at which we use the same piece of information in our day to day life , remembering/recollecting it is not a very tough task.

Telecommunication has come a long way in the areas of memory . Growing up , we maintained diaries where the numbers of the people we knew were stored . This is a big reason why we still remember most of our childhood friend's land line numbers since we had to read the number from somewhere and dial it . These numbers were easily memorized on how often we called them .

But now the scenario is different , with mobile phones , one one longer has to remember the contact number of a particular person . The diary that we once had is now a phonebook / contact list where the number is saved and all that the caller has to do is type the name and dial .

My blog today shall talk about memory , mobile phones and my favorite topic , LOVE .

None of us can do without a mobile phone in today's world . We have become slaves to this device with it now becoming an integral part our lives . All information that we have/want to seek can be accessed via a mobile phone . But what happens when our mobile phone gets lost and we spend those few minutes of panic trying to remember whose number we remember by heart is what I shall talk about today.

Who are the people that I could contact in times of such an ' emergency ' . Not including the land line numbers of my childhood friends ( which are now disconnected ) there were 3 mobile numbers till last week that I knew by heart . Till last week . Now there are 4 ( I think you know where we're going )

Let me talk about my 3 ' saviors ' first , then I'll talk about the one that you people want to know about.

1) Daddy - Person who bought me the mobile phone . Remembering his number is my thank you gift

2) Brother - Don't talk to him as much ( I love you Mudit ) but his number is easy to remember

3) Best Friend for the past 5 years - Football , guy/girl issues , the works . Speak to him at least thrice a day.

Do not remember's Mom's number . Doodh Ka Karz . Sorry Mummy .

And now , let's talk about person number 4 ( if you were really smart , you'd skip the start and come right here )

So who is this person number 4 . Let me bring that smile on your faces by stating what I think you guys would have already guessed by now

Savior number 4 is a GIRL ( Here we go again . Adit , you really need to stop )

How do I know her number by heart is not important . It is the WHY do I know her number by heart is what you people want to know .

Well , let me make things more interesting by telling you that her number wasn't that easy to memorize . So WHY do I know it ?

Secondly , I don't communicate that often with #4 that often . So WHY do I know those 10 digits at the back of my hand and not someone's else who I talk to much more . #4 might be down the pecking order when it comes to who I'll call in an emergency . #4 might/will surely find it extremely odd ( I'm hoping she finds it funny ) that I remember her number . What follows should such an event in the future occur is what I am looking forward to with eager anticipation.

To the people around me - If you want to know who this person is , all you need to do is ... I won't tell you who I called , she will tell you people who called her .

And last but not the least a song for all you people which is very close to our hearts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhHrV5UsQ_Q

very much single

My very first blog spoke about goodbyes, and then what followed were condolences, working harder to be on the other side. Even though what was written was true and straight from the heart, I made people emotional, they realized that things were going to end and we’re not prepared for it. So yeah, I didn’t start things in the happiest way possible.

So let’s talk about something good, something nice. Let’s talk about Love (Pyaar/Ishq/Mohabat )

I am very much single. You’re supposed to fall in love when you are READY, not when you’re LONELY. I am READY xD

So let me write the question that everyone will ask me – WHAT ‘TYPE’ of girl do I want?

This blog shall talk exactly about this. So what is my TYPE?

Hindu, Christian, Punjabi, Buddhist, Parsi, Sindhi, Gujarati, South Indian, Bengali. Religion, caste and all that minority group bullshit is something that you’ll find in a ‘ India’s Rich Culture and Heritage ‘ textbook , not inside my head.  (See what I did there, I didn’t mention someone for a good reason. Read the line again). As long as she has 2 hand, 2 legs, 1 nose, 2 ears, 2 eyes , 2 lips , 2 breasts , I don’t care . Tall, short, fat, thin, curvy, flat anyone will do. This is the least of my concerns.

Love I think is done on an emotional level and not using rationale. But I see and do things on a very practical level and thus I’ve made a list using not only my heart but the organ that we call the brain  which should make it easier for my friends who are trying their level best to help me find the SPECIAL ONE. This list will help them filter the choices and lead them to my TYPE of girl.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

·         Should be able to walk as fast as me – This is the most important rule for me and a major reason why my friends have been so unsuccessful. I am yet to find a girl who can walk as fast as me. It goes without saying that you’ll spend a lot of time walking with your loved one and it simply doesn’t make sense if she can’t walk at the same pace as you. I have seen how fast some girls walk and I just cannot tune myself to that pace. You crawl when you are a baby, not when you are in your early twenties.

·         Chicken Girl – Pigs are filthy animals, fine. Cows are holy, I can understand. Water from the sea is dirty so I don’t eat fish, benefit of the doubt. But for heaven’s sake please eat chicken. I just can’t see myself with a girl who has stopped / never tasted chicken in her life. I cannot visualize myself eating butter chicken while the girl sitting beside me is having muttar paneer. Having a vegetarian girlfriend is just not going to work.

·         Dropping/Picking up Theory – Love overcomes all distances and barriers, with me there will always be exceptions. I shall state with an example

I stay in Versova, Andheri (West), if she stays for example in Mulund and we have to ‘spend time on day together ‘in Colaba. I am NOT taking a train from Andheri to Dadar and another train from Dadar to Mulund and then another train from Mulund to CST to pick her up and go together. And you’ve got to be crazy if you think I am going to repeat the return journey. Love makes you do stupid things where you go to any ‘lengths’ to keep the other person happy. Let’s be practical here (Girl from the central line is going to be a problem, So is Kandivali, Borivali , let’s not even talk about Virar).

On the other hand, I am also very considerate if you stay close to Andheri or we’re going to a place that is convenient for both of us I will spend an hour before the decided date waiting for you below your building (I have a weakness for reaching places well before time). So you see, I am a nice guy , who thinks practically.

·         Should have basic knowledge about the world of sports – And by sports I don’t just mean cricket. If you only watch cricket then I’m sorry, If you watch football please give me your number, If you’re one of those few girls who supports a club by the name of Chelsea. Why haven’t we met yet?  Having a girlfriend who knows a little bit or two about the world of sport is a major turn on for me.

·         No phone calls during football matches – The girl that likes me should know what football means to me. I have no shame in admitting that Football will always come before her. There is absolutely no point debating this. Those two hours where I sit in front of the TV belong to me and me alone. I don’t entertain any phone calls when I watch a football match. This applies to family, friend and will also apply to girlfriend. Don’t want any ‘Missing you ‘, ‘Hi Honey ‘nonsense when I am watching football. I schedule my studying program around the timings of football matches; it’ll be really helpful if she does the same. Will never say no to help. But there is a time and place for everything. Those two hours clearly aren’t.

·         Sense of humour – One thing which I find in very few girls. Major requirement for me. There should never be a dull moment with her. The ‘time flies with you ‘type of girl. At the same time should be graceful when at the receiving end of jokes. Being a good sport counts.

·         Should not use a Blackberry – I don’t want to waste time explaining why. Scroll down for next point.

·         Favourite colour must NOT be PINK – Fantasize about Edward Cullen for all I care, but please no pink.

·         Should not expect flowers and bouquets. One of the last things that I’ll be wasting my money on. I cannot get them for free since I am not a gardener/florist.  One thing that you can expect from me (and loads of it) is chocolates. Rest assured.

·         And last but not the least; she like me should be a kid trapped in an adult’s body. I know one when I see one.

And the search continues … 

A phone not made for me

If it ain't broke , don't fix it . This seems to be the case with me when it comes to mobile phones . I've been using a Samsung C3200 since Feb 2011 and it's in tip top shape. Despite this , I've been at the receiving end of being asked to get a ' better ' phone by the people I know . My dad is part of this list as he feels that I could certainly do with an improved phone than the one I currently use . Most sons would jump at the opportunity of getting a new handset , but lets just say I'm happy with what I got.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have a new/better phone . I look around me and see this device called the ' Blackberry ' which seems to be another organ of the human body. Everybody around me has one , my friends as well as my enemies . Should I fall prey to this and buy one ( Curve costs less than 10k I've heard ) . I've faced many crossroads in my life where I have to choose what is best for me. The choice between buying a BB and not buying one has taken me the least amount of time to decide.

In college there was a time when everyone was happy with their Nokia's and Samsung's . Then one day this new thing called a Blackberry entered our lives and took everyone by storm. Feeling left out is not an option for the youth of today and soon you saw black , red , white blackberry's all around you . It was the new toy to play with , not trapped by its lure I soon was one of the few people who didn't have a BB ( No BB and Proud )

Due to this phenomena ' they ' were connected in a much better way. Distances were narrowed with strangers became friends and friends became partners . BBM became the new ' IN ' thing . People around me had their heads hung down most of the time ( in shame ? ) which made me wonder on what was it on the other side that I was missing out on . Did I have to buy this phone because I wanted to or because some people wanted to.

Why I will never buy a Blackberry ( explained in bullet points to make it simpler )

1. Let me start by coming straight to the point - if i had to buy one , I'd have bought one a long time back . I haven't  . Move down for point 2
2. The day my current phone goes kaput I am getting an Android phone ( Samsung/HTC ) . Have included this point for those who are desperate for me to get a new phone . 
3. Just for a select few who have a BB , I am not going to buy one 

I think I do pretty well when it comes to staying in touch with those who have one . Facebook is always there , I do message them once in a while . For those that I'm not in touch with , buying a BB won't change things . Never thought about you , buying a Blackberry won't change things . 

What I'm saying is true . When you buy an I-pod / music player . You may have 200+ songs on it . But how many do you listen to every day . What is your favorite song today may not be your favorite song tomorrow . You may listen to a song that you heard for the first time 15 years ago and continue to listen to this day. You add new songs and you delete some . We treat people in the same way as we treat our songs. One phone is not going to change things . 

4. Now coming to the most important point  - The ' She/Her ' Theory . 

We have done crazy things when we like someone . Buying a mobile phone is very much part of this list. We have to stay ' in touch ' after all don't we ? 

Dilemma number one - Does ' she ' have a Blackberry ? 

Two possible answers 

a) Yes , She does - Do I need to buy one now ? How important is it for me to buy a Blackberry ? Will my chances increase ? Is she really worth it ? 10k for a phone for a girl ?

If I have managed to ' keep in touch ' with ' Her ' without me having a BB then how does she having a BB make any difference . 

b) No , She doesn't - Then why should I buy one . 1000 free message package zindabad !!! 

But the problem with me is that many ' She's ' have come and gone . But we shall discuss this later . We're talking about phones today . I won't buy a phone with certain features so that I get to know ' Her ' better . 

So yeah , my birthday's in 161 days . I could very well ask for a new phone . Shall do my research on which phone to buy and which not to . Rest assured , it won't be a B********Y . 

Another dilemma of life

A soul that cannot Console

I received my exam results today, I passed, College failed. And this is the topic for my latest blog.

The very first blog I wrote spoke about my weakness and rather dislike for saying goodbye. Most people would write about their qualities trying to impress those who read the blog. But telling the world about the things that you don’t have and feel helpless about is what I am going to write about today.

They say that a ‘true’ friend is one that stays with you through thick and thin. He is one who will surely be there with you during the good times that you enjoy. But his real character can be judged if he is there by your side during the bad times, the times when you need someone the most.

I am that kind of guy who will always be there during the ‘good times’ but it is in the ‘bad times’ where I feel that something went wrong.

CONSOLING someone is something that I just cannot do. I find this a very artificial way of making the other person feel better. According to me it is a method used by us for the short term gain not realizing the long term side effects it has on the other person. And I have my reasons for this.

When it comes to studies, I don’t belong to the nerd category but I am one of those many who does ‘enough to pass’. When it came to the day of the results, there was never a fear of not passing. It wasn’t over confidence but an assurance over one’s ability. Hugs and high-fives were aplenty amongst those who passed but I always looked from far on the other side.

It was those who failed that I spent half my time looking at. I have worked hard and that has shown in the result but why am I still sad when the occasion calls for happiness and celebration is what I think about. What should I tell them when I go up to them.

How can I tell them

1) Everything will be alright , everything will be OK - everything is not OK , everything will be OK when like you , they too will be smiling .

2) I can understand - No Mr. , you do not understand and can never understand . You have passed , they have failed . You will never understand . Why do people even say ' I can understand ' ? 

What I could tell them but won't due to there being a time and place for everything 

1) Work harder next time , I'm sure you will pass . 

2) It's not the end of the World - Stuff like ' You've only failed an exam , you haven't failed LIFE ' shit like that 

3) Motivational and Philosophy quote overload 

What I should definitely be telling them but won't 

1) Fucker , I told you to study , but no 

a) You wanted to see the IPL in Wankhede

b) You wanted to meet ' her ' in the evening. 

c) You're favorite serial was more important. That guy makes a comeback in tonight's show . 

d) Life is football , Football is life. 

When you're on the good good it is very tough to find that ' OK ' point between good and bad . Another quality that you'll find lacking in me. 

Coming to the end I'd like to say that I'd always be there during the good times. And if you're wondering where did I go when you needed me the most , I was always there and will always be . It's just that I never said anything because I didn't know what to say. 

2011-2012 Champions League Final Preview

Let me first start by admitting that I didn’t have a clue as to how and from where should I start this preview. Then there was the dilemma of whether to keep it short and sweet or making you scroll down a lot till you reach the end. 

The 2005 Champions League Final at Istanbul was the first UCL Final I watched live. Watching the competition religiously from that day on I realized that here is a competition won purely on an emotional level rather than what happens during those 90 minutes on the pitch (extra time and penalties in some cases)

Regarding the Champions League, I have this ‘theory of destiny’ as I’d like to call it. Looking at the teams and players that have won the competition I doubt anyone can raise a finger remarking that these particular groups of players didn’t deserve to step on the podium and collect the winner’s medal. 

One thing common - They have a UCL Winners Medal

 I started watching football in the year 2002. That was the year where a bald man and another player who I rate higher than Lionel Messi stole my heart and made me ditch Cricket for good. Ten years down the line when I look at the winners of Europe’s top prize at the club level I see the names of Zidane , Raul , Pirlo , Nesta , Kaka , Maldini , Shevchenko , Henry , Eto’o , Deco , Rooney , Ronaldo , Ronaldinho , Gerrard ,    Iniesta , Xavi , Messi and I get this feeling that these players were born to lift this trophy. 

Such players come once in a generation and you get the feeling that they just couldn’t have retired from the game without having won the Champions League. It would be really heartbreaking for them if after years of playing the beautiful game with a passion, determination not seen by many they didn’t have a UCL winner’s medal on display in their trophy cabinet. 

And it is for this very reason that I think this year is Chelsea’s year. 

John Terry - Let's win it for him 

If there was ever a poll for the best team / best set of players never to have won the Champions League, Chelsea and its players would top it. The ‘nearly men’ in this competition have stumbled time and again before the finishing line in the form of crazy substitutions, ghost goals, bad refereeing. A penalty kick away from lifting the cup and still not crowned winners, this team has witnessed everything when it comes to how to snatch defeats from the jaws of victory. 

Time to right those wrongs once and for all

With defeat in 4 semi finals and 1 final in the past 8 years what is it that gives Chelsea a ‘ so near , yet so far ’ definition in this competition despite having the ‘ big game ’ mentality amongst its players is what I ask myself each team Chelsea crash out of the competition. But I won’t be asking myself this question this time round. A case of unfinished business reckons for the men in blue this time round. 

Chelsea's Old Guard - Just that one trophy needed 

Most of these players that’ll be playing the game of their lives have come a long way in their careers to be at such a stage. The ‘Old Guard’ or the ‘Spine’ of this Chelsea side led by their captain John Terry accompanied by Frank Lampard , Didier Drogba and Petr Cech have been through the up’s and down’s that this team has faced over the past 8 years. But it’s this one final piece that they need to complete the jigsaw. In this list we must not forget Ashley Cole who many rate as the world’s best left back in the past decade. Being on the loser’s side at two previous finals, he’d want to make it 3^rd time lucky. These players have a huge fan following the world over with one of them having a God like status in his country. They very well know that you don’t win silver, you lose gold. With most of these players being on the wrong side of 30, this could be the last European Cup Finals they’d be playing. This is their best chance to sign off in the best way possible. Nobody remembers the team that loses the final. For this group to be included in football folklore, they need to lift the ‘Holy Grail’ come 19^th May. 

Alliaz Arena - All decked up for the 19th

Bayern's Feared Trio - Ribery , Robben and Gomez

On the other hand Bayern Munich, the opponents, too have a date with destiny. Runners-up in the 2010 final, they now have a chance to silence critics by playing the final at their home stadium. The Allianz Arena boasts a capacity of 69,900 which will play a big role in making sure Bayern feels very much at home. This season has been one to forget for Germany’s most successful club, having finished runners-up in their domestic league and cup. They now are just a Final away from sending the city into a euphoria last witnessed in 2001. Talent flows in this team in the form of Neuer, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Ribery, Muller and Gomez. They are a neutral’s delight to watch when they are at their attacking best. 

But when it comes to who wants this trophy more, it’s the team in blue that’ll be more motivated. Chelsea shouldn’t be in the final in the first place. For many the last 16 tie was as good as over after the 3-1 defeat to Napoli, sacking the manager and appointing his assistant as interim manager between the two legs made matters even worse. The match at the Nou Camp was a foregone conclusion with the team facing a 2-0 defeat having to score a goal with 10 men. It could have been game set and match had Messi scored from the spot. I shouldn’t be writing this preview at all but I have, Chelsea shouldn’t be playing the final in the first place. But here we are. 

Needs the ' Holy Grail ' to complete his ' Roman ' Empire

From Chelsea’s point of view if there’s one man who wants Chelsea to win more than anyone, it is Roman Abramovich. The man changed the clubs fortunes in 2003 and has ever since set his eyes on winning the Europe’s biggest prize. A man who gives little or no importance to the manager’s past reputation with a ‘win something or you’re out’ manner of running the club now has the chance to get what he always desired. Millions has been spent on finding the man who would end this drought. Fans have seen a world cup winning manager fired before the season could even end. Master tacticians and past winners of the competition as managers in the likes of Mourinho, Hiddink and Ancelotti have failed to deliver for Chelsea at the continental level. 

Roberto Di Matteo - Will he succeed where others have failed ?

The club now has a man who two years back was managing a club in England’s second division and now is at the brink of being a club legend. 4^th March 2012 was the day the course of Chelsea’s faltering season would change. The team was staring at elimination from the competition at the hands of a 3-1 first leg defeat at the hands of Napoli, a top 4 finish was looking dead and buried. 

Fast forward to the 3^rd week of May and ex Chelsea player and now interim manager Roberto Di Matteo has led the club to its 7^th FA CUP win and 2^nd UCL Final. From a season to forget, the Italian has given fans new hope and a reason to download the 2011-2012 season review. He is on the verge of winning the club its first Champions League Trophy but despite this there's absolutely no guarantee if he'll be the manager for Chelsea's first game of the next season.

Besides pride and reputation , there is also a lot on money at stake. Unlike Bayern Munich, Chelsea isn’t assured of playing the Champions League the next season which brings a whole new dimension into their approach to the game. It couldn't be any simpler for them – win the competition and play it the next season. Winning Europe’s big prize would earn Chelsea 49.2m GBP plus another 5.8m GBP for qualifying and playing each group game of next season’s Champions League (5.8m GBP without the result bonus in the group stage). Should they lose to Bayern Munich, they’d be playing the UCL’s poor cousin The Europa League next season that offers peanuts ( Atletico Madrid got 6m GBP as prize money for winning ) compared to the UCL. With the Financial Fair Play coming into implementation, not playing the Champions League is something which a club like Chelsea can simply not afford. To attract players in the transfer market in the coming summer , the lure of the Champions League is something that Chelsea have to offer. 

Coming to the two teams now (Too much pre-match talk, I know) both teams have a whole lot of players suspended for the Final.  

 

Chelsea – Considering how much winning the UCL means to him, John Terry couldn’t have asked for a worse match to be suspended for. Besides their talismanic captain, Chelsea will be without defender Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles and Ramires. David Luiz and Gary Cahill are winning the race to be fit for Saturday's grand spectacle, should they not recover in time, expect the likes of Bosingwa , Essien to play in the heart of defence . 

JT’s presence and Ramires’s energy is impossible to replace but Di Matteo cannot and will not think about the people who won’t be playing but instead make the best of the players that are available. 

The likes of Mikel and Kalou have taken to RDM like a duck to water and I’m expecting the duo to start. Luiz, should he start has the best occasion to hit back at those who question his defending. 

The reason why I have included Malouda is that RDM won’t change his formation for such a big game and start Torres and Drogba in the same game. Essien hasn’t been the same player since his return from injury. Sturridge has been the shadow of the player he was at the start of the season, plus he isn’t very good at tracking back. Malouda has the experience and is much better defensively than the Englishman. The Frenchman is rated as ' touch and go ' by Di Matteo due to the injury he picked up. Fingers crossed that he makes it

Chelsea's Starting 11 

Bayern Munich - Coached by Jupp Heynckes , the German giants will be without the suspended trio of David Alaba ( left back ) , Holger Badstuber ( center back ) and Luiz Gustavo ( midfielder ) . Alaba's darting runs down the left hand side will be sorely missed. His replacement should be in the form of Diego Contento . 


Without Badstuber , it should be Tymoschchuk who will play alongside Boateng . Van Buyten who made his return from injury in a reserve game may be short of match fitness. If there's an area for Chelsea to exploit it is their center back pairing. 

Heynckes has played Toni Kroos as an attacking midfielder playing just behind the forward for majority of their European campaign , but with Gustavo suspended , Kroos should start this game in a more defensive role by playing alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger as the two midfielders in front of the back 4. 


One cannot write a preview without saying what Ribery and Robben bring to Bayern's attacking play . The duo will provide the much needed width down the flanks . With tricks and pace up the duo's sleeve , Chelsea's full-backs have their work cut out .  Expect 22 year old Thomas Muller to get the nod and play as the supporting striker behind Mario Gomez . 


Bayern Munich Starting 11

With Both Teams playing a 4-2-3-1 , here's where the game could be won or lost. 

Drogba and Gomez - The Hitmen for the Final 

1) The Forward vs the 2 center backs 


a) Didier Drogba - Going by the reception that he received from the fans and Roman during Chelsea’s home game against Blackburn, this could very well be his last game in a Chelsea shirt. What better way to sign off than with a Champions league win. He knows how close he was to winning it on that night at Moscow and he now has a chance to right those wrongs. Has won cup finals on his own and will be up and running against Boateng and Tymoschuk. If there’s an Achilles heel in the Bayern side, it is their center backs. If on song, the 34 year old Ivorian could give the duo a game to forget.  He’s Chelsea’s best chance of winning the UCL for the first time.

b) Vice Versa for Chelsea , Mario Gomez goes into this game having hit 41 goals this season in all competitions. Should Luiz/Cahill or both not recover (we’re fucked then) in time, Gomez is very capable of giving Bosingwa and co a torrid time at Munich. 

2) The Battle in the Midfield 

a) Malouda and Cole vs Robben and Lahm – Cole will have to be at the top of his game to keep the Dutchman quiet. Malouda will need to work in tandem with Cole to neutralize Bayern’s attacks down the right hand side.

Franck Ribery - Mr Scarface would want to leave his MARK

b) Whoever marks Franck Ribery has to play one of his best games in a Chelsea shirt. The Frenchman has put his injuries behind and despite not having won anything this season seems to in the form of his life . He's my man to watch from the Bayern Munich team . Is an absolute live wire in terms of speed and dribbling and also has a good eye for goal . Could cause Chelsea a whole lot of problems if given the time and the space on the ball . 

Schweinsteiger vs Lampard - Who is going to come out on top ? 

c) Sitting Midfielders – On paper Schweinsteiger and Kroos look the better midfielders. Lampard vs Bastian is a duel I am eagerly awaiting. Two of the best box to box midfielders go head to head at the Allianz Arena.

 John Obi Mikel has improved by leaps and bounds ever since Di Matteo got over . Hoping that the occasion doesn’t get the better of him. One of the players who fans don’t rate that high but trust me when I say this that he has one of the most important roles to play for Chelsea on Saturday .

Could he be the ' JUAN ' to win it 

d) Juan Mata - CFC Player of the season in his debut year. Would want to go to the Euros in the best of moods with a win at the Allianz Arena. Chelsea’s most creative player in the side will have to have a good game and feed Drogba with those through balls. I hate to say this but I hope it’s Lampard who takes the corners and not him. One area where I think Mata is not up to the mark is his set piece delivery.

Thomas Muller - Mr Tap In 

e) I really like Thomas Muller. A player who no one would talk in detail in the pre match previews but the 22 year old just turns up at the right place at the right time to be spoken about in the post match reviews. Another reason why Cahill and Luiz starting is so important  With most of the focus being on Gomez , Ribery and Robben it is this fellow who could spring a few surprises at the Allianz Arena. Do not ignore him Chelsea defenders.




3) The Goalkeepers - Manuel Neuer vs Petr Cech

Neuer and Cech - Pillars between the sticks

With most of the talk been done about the attacking threat posed by both sides , Saturday's final also pits two of Europe's best goal-keepers against each other. Many consider the 26yr old Neuer to be the best in the business. Germany's number one goalkeeper is a commanding presence in the box .

On the other hand we have 29yr old Petr Cech who may be past his prime but would want to remind critics that he can never be written of. Without the presence of their captain John Terry , Cech will play a crucial role in keeping the defence organized . If asked to pick , it'll be him who'll be the busier of the two keepers

Prediction - With the prospect of an El- Classico Final been thrown out the window,  the football world has got the match of the underdogs. It's Red versus Blue as football's two primary colours go head to head at Europe's biggest stage. We’ve got a real good match on our hands. I don't need to say which team will I be rooting for. Chelsea play in a Champions League Final 1460 days after that night to forget in Moscow. It is their date with destiny . 2-1 to Chelsea with the man from the Ivory Coast signing off  in the best way possible.

And let's dump those Yids in the Europa League #freeluka

P.S - There will be two things that follow regardless of who the winner is - Alcohol and Tears